Conscious Business of the Week: African Textile Designs by Social Enterprise Baba Blankets

This is the story of an African textile designs company based in Ghana that sells beautiful blankets, duvet covers and more that capture the rich and colorful spirit of the African culture.  More so, this is a story of a conscious business that is tackling poverty inside out by providing under-educated women with a means to support themselves and by providing scholarships to girls who would have otherwise dropped out of school due to impoverishment.

Beyond the beautiful bedding and exquisite artistry, Baba Blankets is a model for the holistic, forward thinking that seeks to provide more than a band aid on the social issues of our time.   Conceived and founded by one woman who acted upon a hit of inspiration, Baba Blankets also reminds us that one person does have the power to create great change.

African Textile Designs that Empower and Adorn

The design collective that Founder & Designer E. Aminata Brown began in Accra, the capital of Ghana, is providing the creative environment that is empowering poor women to support themselves and their families via their own efforts.  Interestingly enough, this endeavor did not begin with Aminata seeking out a channel for charity.

The idea behind the Baba Blanket conscious business model was born one day in 2000 as Aminata walked through a market in Accra and discovered a community of young girls and women that had migrated from all over the country to work as load carriers.  From dawn to dusk, these impoverished women carry heavy loads of goods upon their heads long distances for scant pay.  Most of them, without relatives near, live and sleep on the streets of the markets where they work.

What moved Aminata most about these women was their spirit and willingness to seek out work verses resorting to begging.  Fascinated by them, she began to talk to them and soon found out that most of them had a few things in common; many of them ironically had not able to finish school due to their poverty and if they could learn one skill it would be to sew.

Struck by the ethics and courage behind this seemingly simple dream, she followed the inner call to assist these honorable women in some way and founded the first Baba Blankets African Textile Designs studio.

Sewing the Seeds of Sustainable Income and Empowerment

At that Baba Blankets studio, the women learn to sew bedding of all kinds, from duvet cover and pillows to wall hangings and blankets.  The mission, as Brown says, “is to create inspiring cultural works that provide sustainable income and well-deserved development opportunities for African women and girls.”

In 2006, the collective moved to a larger facility that offers both the workspace and sleeping areas for the 13 women in the collective at that time. This conscious business is truly changing the lives of these African women and helping a culture transform.

As one of the Baba Blanket producers, Rita Makase, said, “I’ve moved through a lot of the problems of my past and I’m in a better place.”  As Aminata detected, these women are not small thinkers and Rita, for example, plans to continue improving her skills and become a Director for a large company, “maybe even BaBa Blankets.”

Such movement is the essence behind Baba’s mission; to move beyond short term financial assistance via the creation of jobs to instead empower the women to develop and become self-sustained.  To Aminata, “BaBa Blankets symbolize the infinite beauty possible when we empower each other to learn, grow, and collectively reach our true potential.”

An Inside Out Approach to Alleviating Poverty through Conscious Business

The income and skills received from the textile work has enabled these women to change the quality of their lives.  Moreover, it is assisting this community in breaking the cycle of poverty in the long term.

In addition to supporting the women designers that make up this African Textile Designs collective, Baba Blankets also funds a sister scholar program that sponsors young girls to stay in school.  “Our hope” as Aminata says, “is to see these girls become fully literate, explore their true interests and graduate more equipped to manifest their dreams.  Giving one woman a means to provide for herself and her family is how we address the poverty of today.  Educating girls is how we begin to break the cycle of poverty of tomorrow.”

Baba blankets successfully sells their unique line of African textile designs both online and at their retail shop in New Orleans with a vision of opening up numerous locations throughout the states.  This conscious business is truly a beautiful reminder of what is possible in business and in society when we trust and follow our heart.

To learn more visit http://www.babablanket.com.

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